Developing Scientific Knowledge for the Sustainable Management of Tuna Fisheries in the Indian Ocean - GCP/GLO/983/EC

In recent years, the IOTC has sought to better understand the impact of fisheries on bycatch species, such as sharks and rays. However, concerns have been raised over the lack of scientific information available on these species, making it difficult to quantify the effects of fisheries-related activities. In addition, the increasing use of fish-aggregating devices (FADs) in the region and its impact on fragile marine ecosystems also needs to be further explored. The collection of reliable data is essential for stronger assessment of the IOTC fisheries situation and the formulation of a more comprehensive management plan for the future. The project was therefore designed to contribute to the development of scientific information pertaining to fisheries for tuna and tuna-like species in the IOTC area.